We had an idea for a new series. How about asking people associated with Barrow AFC if we could go out with them for a day to see what they do? So we did. And for the first in this occasional series, we went to the match commentary team at Radio Cumbria. "Can we see what you get up to in the press box?" we asked. 'Get stuffed, ' they replied, 'but you can watch us put a match commentary together ' So one Saturday a long time ago we met Ron Duxbury and Russell Dodd at Holker St and this is the result...
A DAY with RADIO CUMBRIA
Preparations are already well under way thirty minutes before the kick off. All the equipment is set up. Match commentator Ron Duxbury is speaking to the producer in Radio Cumbria's Carlisle studios to work out when they'll need his preview. He can hear the producer through a set of headphones. The right side relays whatever is being broadcast at the time while the producer's instructions are transmitted through the left. The press box is filling up. There's Phil Pearson and Matt Davies of the Evening Mail. And sat on a stool the legendary Bob Herbert. At home games Russell Dodd is in charge of tannoy announcements and the reports to the Barrow Soccerline. He also commentates on Barrow's away games. The team sheets are brought in. There's a new signing in Barrow's team; Kevin McIntyre. "Where's he from?" someone asks. "Tranmere. He's been playing in their reserves." There was a time when Barrow had a shortage of left footers. Now we're overwhelmed by them. Neil Morton has kissed and made up following his shock transfer request. He's back in the team spearheading the attack. And the prodigal son returns; Neil Doherty is on the bench. But the big news is that Andy Mutch is missing. Someone thinks he left the ground in a hurry. Was this because he'd been dropped? Or has he had an argument? Ron relays this to the producer in Carlisle. The producer wants more on the Andy Mutch story, but it will have to wait until full time. It's eight minutes to three. The producer's ready to go live to Holker St. Ron has listed the main points and proceeds to effortlessly stitch them together into a seamless four minute piece straight to mic, setting the game in the context of Barrow's poor form, early exit from the FA Trophy, the failure to sign centre forward, Neil Hardy, the McIntyre, Morton, Doherty and Mutch stories, and Barrow's opponent's record of ten games without defeat. Not only that, but he picks up the point that the opposition include an ex-colleague of Andy Mutch who used to play with him at Wolves. I ask Ron how he gets all this information. Just a little bit of homework, he tells me. He always has a look at the opposition's team to see if there's anyone of interest to Barrow's fans. The game kicks off, but the live commentary on Radio Cumbria today is Hull v Carlisle, so after the frenetic activity in the Holker St press box leading up to the kick off, the start of the game itself is something of an anti-climax. The producer is ready for Ron's first summary twelve minutes into the game. "Handover straight to Keith Richardson at North Ferriby v Workington," the producer tells him through the headphones. It's up to Ron how long he stays on air. If a goal looks like it might be imminent, he'll go into live commentary. But given Barrow's form this season, that doesn't happen very often. And there's nothing much happening today, so Ron keeps it brief and to the point, about a minute. But then, the commentator's nightmare. A sudden flurry of action at the Holker End. The ball is bouncing and ricocheting around in front of goal. It's like ping pong. Barrow's forwards desperately try to get the ball in the back of the net whilst the opposition's defenders strive to clear it. Somewhere in there a defender nearly slices the ball into his own net before it's cleared off the line. It's all over in less than thirty seconds. But who did what? Was it Morton's cross and Foster's shot or the other way round? Did Bauress pass to Foster? Did it hit the post from the defender or did the goalie get a touch? It all happened so fast I haven't got a clue. Sometimes the commentator hasn't either. But with everyone's help, by the time Ron delivers his second summary just before the half hour point it's all in the correct sequence. Just after this, disaster strikes. McCauley, trying to clear a high, bouncing ball from Barrow's penalty area between two attackers who are both one foot taller than him, lifts his arm just as the ball bounces up into it. Is it a penalty? No doubt about it. Why didn't he get his arm out of the way? It was accidental. Barrow's opponents are a goal ahead. Ron tells the producer. "We'll come to you in a minute," he is told. At half-time the press box is a hive of activity. The newspapermen dictate reports down phone lines. Ron is standing by for the cue to deliver his first half report live on air. After switching on the taped music Russ gives his second report to the Soccerline. He then switches the tape off to announce the winning numbers for the raffle and the Raise the Roof fund. Meanwhile Ron's done his summary and he's writing down the half-time scores as they come through the live feed from the studio prior to reading them out over the tannoy. The second half at Barrow kicks off before the Hull v Carlisle game. So the producer asks for live commentary for the first five minutes. Just on the hour it's time for the first of the second half summaries. Another one ten minutes later. The crowd let out the largest cheer of the afternoon when Neil Doherty comes on as substitute and with his first touch of the ball he crosses for Barrow's best chance of the game. The goalie pulls off a tremendous save. But it gets worse, not better. On 82 minutes Barrow are two goals down. Ron tells the producer who comes straight back to him so he can describe the goal and the preceding action. At the final whistle, as the fans trudge disconsolately out of the ground, Russ announces the date of the next game over the tannoy and delivers his final report to the Soccerline. Ron is standing by to go on air but he has to wait until 4.55 and the end of the Hull v Carlisle game. Immediately afterwards, the equipment is packed away and Ron heads over to the Sports and Social Club to interview manager Owen Brown. He has to get to the studio in Hartington Street to make sure this interview goes out between 5.30 and six o'clock, so there's not a lot of time. In the manager's office, Owen Brown is just finishing off his interview with Matt Davies for the Evening Mail. Ron sets up his MiniDisc recorder. Brown's unhappy at yet another defeat and his disillusionment shows. But there's no problem with Andy Mutch. He wasn't in the team because he's twisted a knee. Interview finished, it's a quick dash to Radio Cumbria's studios in Hartington St. We're there by 5.25. Ron checks that the MiniDisc player has recorded the interview correctly, cues it up and phones the producer in Carlisle to tell him he's ready. The interview is broadcast at 5.35. Ron checks what they want for the Monday programme and records it there and then. Ten to six and it's all over, until the next game. Graham Murphy spent the afternoon with Ron Duxbury and Russell Dodd at Barrow v Hednesford Town on 29 November 1998. Many thanks to them and to Radio Cumbria for their co-operation. Issue 038 - January 1999